This is a blog dedicated to people who feel that they were scammed by the Likes Karon Shea Model Management, Cinderella Modeling Agency and John Wood. So far this blog has been based on opinions of consumers that have dealt with Karon Shea Model Management, Richard Bertone,John Wood and Cinderella Modeling Agency, Use them at your own risk!

11/22/09

I RESPONDED TO THIS AD ON CRAIGS LIST. It was John Wood. He just oozes Sleaze. I am glad I read this blog friends of mine told me about it a while back. After I got off the phone with John I went back and read it. He said mostly the same stuff that other people have posted. Thank you I am glad I was able to do my research before giving him any money.

CASTING! (Boston)

Date: 2009-11-14, 4:21PM EST

We are currently holding open casting calls for feature film to be filmed in the Boston area.

We have over 100 small supporting roles and bit parts and would like to cast local actors and non-actors.

IF you come across this AD for CASTINGS...... BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This Is a JOHN WOODS BS thing to take your money... He will never get you work or should I say send you on any go sees.Suzette from Cinderella Models and John make a ton of $$ off your COMP CARDS he will get you to buy. And if your an ACTOR comp cards are not the product you need.THEY are not a CASTING COMPANY.. They have NO JOBS.. ASK them to show you there listings from these movies..

HERE IS THE AD>

We are currently holding open casting calls for feature film to be filmed in the Boston area.

We have over 100 small supporting roles and bit parts and would like to castlocal actors and non-actors.

We are seeking people of all ages, ethnicities, genders.

No acting experience necessary!

Please include the following information:

Name:Phone Number:Location:Age:Picture if possible

Casting other films as well.

* Location: BOSTON/MA/HN * it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests * Compensation: no pay

Don't be fooled people. This applies to the individual who suggested that John Wood and the modeling agencies that he's partnering with are using legitimated methods to steal your money. Yes, partially legit, but that's how scams are successful. Con men use partial truths to build their lies upon. I too paid the $795 for a comp card, because as anyone who is in the business knows comp cards are required by modeling agencies, even in this digital age. Ok, its how the modeling agency makes their money. I'm ok with that because I get picture out of it, so its a win/win. However must you pay nearly $800 for a photo shoot and comp card? Absolutely not! Here is where the emotion seeps in, because they play you like a fiddle to get the money out of you and once you realized that you've been scammed, you get pissed.

We were sucked in 5 years ago by Karen Shea Modeling Agency in Worcester, MA and she was just as much in on the scamming as he was. We sat through the John Wood presentation heard verbatim what has been typed here. We were sucked in, because we knew that we had a marketable child. I'm also a former model, but at the time was new to the east coast, so with no proper connections I was scammed.

We also sat through Karen Shea's little bit. When she told us that we would be meeting with a photographer in North Hampton, MA. The photographer would not only take pictures of our daughter in the designated number of outfits, but he would also be "secretly" evaluating her to determine if he would use her in one of the upcoming Family Fun Magazine's since he was the lead photographer for the magazine and did all of the hiring for them. Of course this turned out to be a load of crap. We were told that if our daughter was impressive enough, that he would sign her right on the spot. I don't know if the photographer was in on it, but he was present just days later, when we showed up for another open call for "Family Fun Magazine" where everyone who arrived (at least 300 people) paid $5 to have a polaroid taken of them by this same photographer.

After paying $795 for the comp cards, we never heard a single word from Karen Shea Modeling Agency. Not a single, job, audition or go see. We did however receive general emails inviting us to spend more money and to participate in the Hawaiian Tropic Beauty Pagent and the Kenny Rogers Christmas Special. We did not receive our comp cards for nearly 8 months after the pics had been taken. I was also fed up by month 3 and had moved on to a legitimate modeling agency in Boston. My daughter had received 5 modeling jobs before the Karen Shea comp cards had ever arrived. One of which was actually the actual Family Fun Magazine. The arrival of the comp cards was only after I called and to lay into them, demanded my money back and threated to report them to the better business bureau.

Aside from being dishonest and purposely misleading, she was rude and very condescending on a number of visits. Point blank, no matter how you cook it...this was a scam! I know that some of her talent has received work, but again that's how scams are successful. I also know of other families who were scammed too, bought comp cards and their children never left the house for a single opportunity. Many children never received work from this agency. Here is the truth, which is contrast to what Karen Shea & John Wood told us: The casting or modeling agent does not determine weather or not you are used in a movie, commercial or on a modeling job. The client they work with determine that. Its the modeling agency and casting agencies' job to gather talent to present to the client, ie Magazines, Movie, TV producers. Just so you're ware, you can get photo shoots and comp cards for around $200-300 in Boston. Do you homework and you'll avoid getting scammed.

@organizer thank you so much for your comments. This blog was responsible for running John Wood out of Mass. It has also been viewed almost 10,000 times. I also know it has been responsible for saving people money and not falling for his scam.